What is the Certified ESG Risk Specialist?

The Certified ESG Risk Specialist is a globally recognised professional certification by the Global Leadership Institute (GLI), designed to equip professionals with advanced competencies in Finance & Accounting.

How long does this certification take?

The programme is 11 Weeks and can be completed at your own pace through our self-paced online option, or alongside live virtual sessions.

Is this certification globally recognised?

Yes. GLI certifications are internationally recognised and carry CPD credits, making them valuable for career advancement worldwide.

What level is this certification?

This is a Advanced Level certification, suitable for professionals with relevant experience or background in the field.

You can enrol by emailing info@certifications.ac, contacting us via WhatsApp at +254 722 223 084, or filling the enrolment form below.

Certified ESG Risk Specialist (CERS2)

Executive Summary

Certified ESG Risk Specialist

Designed for today’s high-impact professionals, the Certified ESG Risk Specialist (CERS2) delivers a rigorous Advanced-level curriculum that equips participants with the knowledge, tools and frameworks needed to excel in corporate governance, compliance, policy and accountability.

This 11 Weeks programme is structured around OECD principles, ISO and recognised governance and compliance standards, ensuring every graduate applies internationally validated methods to real-world challenges.

GLI’s CERS2 holders are recognised by leading organisations across Africa, the Gulf, Europe and the Americas as qualified, results-driven professionals. Whether you are advancing your current career or transitioning into new responsibilities, this certification provides the competitive edge you need in 2026 and beyond.

Programme Overview

Certification at a Glance

Certification

Certified ESG Risk Specialist

Acronym

CERS2

Who Should Enrol?

Governance and Compliance Officers
Policy and Regulatory Analysts
Risk and Audit Professionals
Company Secretaries and Board Advisors

Programme Inclusions

Everything Included in Your Enrolment

All study materials and study guide
Access to GLI online learning portal
Online examination and assessment
Digital certificate and digital badge
Physical certificate (shipped to you)
CPD credits for professional bodies
GLI alumni network membership
Facilitator and tutor support
Resource downloads and reference library
Automatic enrolment confirmation

Certification Benefits

Why This Certification Matters for Your Career

Career Advancement

Accelerate your career towards senior governance, compliance and policy-leadership roles

Professional Recognition

Credential aligned with OECD principles, ISO and recognised governance and compliance standards

Leadership Capability

Develop the strategic and operational skills to lead complex corporate governance functions

Organisational Impact

Design and implement corporate governance systems that drive performance and measurable results

Compliance Readiness

Master the standards, compliance and ethical governance central to corporate governance

Global Employability

Qualify for corporate governance roles across corporates, critical infrastructure, government and protective services worldwide

Competency Framework

Core Competencies You Will Develop

✦ESG Risk Taxonomy

✦Governance Risk Identification

✦ESG Risk Scoring

✦Human Rights Risks

✦Reputation and Conduct Risks

✦ESG Risk Monitoring

Course Curriculum

Programme Modules

The full programme, module by module.

Core CurriculumModules 1–20 · specific to Certified ESG Risk Specialist · module 20 is the capstone

1

ESG Risk Foundations

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · ESG principles and frameworks · Risk assessment without theatre

2

ESG Risk Taxonomy

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · Materiality and double materiality in ESG · Risk assessment without theatre

3

Environmental Risk Identification

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · Environmental management systems and compliance · Climate risk: physical, transition and scenario analysis

4

Social Risk Identification

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · The human rights framework: obligations, duty bearers and rights holders · Workplace equity: recruitment, advancement and representation

5

Governance Risk Identification

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · Board effectiveness and evaluation · Fraud, conflict of interest and compliance investigations

6

ESG Materiality and Risk

Materiality and double materiality in ESG · Insurance, risk transfer and retained risk · Audit risk and materiality

7

ESG Risk Assessment

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · Threat and risk assessment for principals · Qualitative and quantitative risk analysis

8

ESG Risk Scoring

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · ESG ratings, scores and how they are actually built · Liquidity and funding risk

9

ESG Risk Quantification

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · Foreign exchange and currency risk · Reasoning with data: statistics, metrics and misleading figures

10

Climate-Related Financial Risks

Climate risk: physical, transition and scenario analysis · Reading financial statements: ratios in context · Credit risk measurement and mitigation

11

Human Rights Risks

Reporting quality and earnings management risks · Shareholder and stakeholder rights · Human rights monitoring and documentation

12

Supply Chain ESG Risks

ESG in supply chains: due diligence and human rights · Value-chain and supply-chain finance · Sourcing portfolios (Kraljic)

13

Regulatory ESG Risks

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · Designing and testing a compliance programme · Public administration, service delivery and citizen engagement

14

Reputation and Conduct Risks

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · Values, ethical judgement and tolerated behaviour · Crisis leadership and command

15

ESG Risk Controls

Controls that work versus controls that exist · Fraud risk and controls · Market risk and VaR

16

ESG Risk Appetite

Risk appetite and governance · Risk appetite and tolerance in practice · Risk appetite translated into usable limits

17

ESG Risk Monitoring

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · Designing indicators that measure something · Data quality and governance

18

ESG Risk Reporting

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · Sustainability reporting standards, boundaries and assurance · Climate governance, disclosure and communicating claims

19

ESG Scenario Analysis

Climate risk: physical, transition and scenario analysis · Supply analysis, gaps and scenario planning · Reasoning under risk and uncertainty

20

Enterprise ESG Risk Strategy

ESG risk: taxonomy, appetite and enterprise integration · Growth strategy and choosing where to compete · Enterprise risk management (ERM)

Professional ElectivesModules 21–30 · common to all GLI certifications · broaden your professional range

21

Strategic Communication and Executive Presentation

Audience-centred communication and message structure · Presentation design: architecture, visuals and data · Public speaking: rhetoric, delivery and managing anxiety

22

Leadership and Team Effectiveness

Leadership and management: two jobs, one role · Building teams: roles, norms and re-forming after change · Delegation levels and the authority-accountability match

23

Analytical Thinking and Evidence-Based Reasoning

Structuring information: patterns, comparison and synthesis · Evidence, sources and the correlation trap · Reasoning with data: statistics, metrics and misleading figures

24

Professional Decision-Making

Decision quality: criteria, alternatives and trade-offs · Decision frameworks: criteria, weighting and trade-offs · Decision governance: authority, documentation and review

25

Negotiation, Influence and Stakeholder Management

Negotiation: preparation, interests and value creation · Influence and persuasion: credibility, framing and ethics · Deadlock, difficult counterparts and negotiation ethics

26

Project and Execution Management

Project start-up: mobilisation in the first ninety days · Change adoption: making a strategy stick in practice · Planning, scheduling and personal workflow systems

27

Financial Literacy for Professionals

Reading the numbers: what financial statements tell a manager · Budgets, costs and the money conversation · Strategic finance: cash, capital structure and value creation

28

Digital Skills, AI and Technology for Professionals

Working with AI tools professionally · Working with data: quality, interpretation and honest presentation · Everyday security: information, devices and social engineering

29

Ethics, Governance and Professional Accountability

Values, ethical judgement and tolerated behaviour · Governance and accountability for the professional · Accountability, initiative and professional reputation

30

Personal Effectiveness, Productivity and Career Growth

Priority: outcomes, importance and the urgency trap · Attention, focus and the cost of interruption · Career development, adaptability and personal reinvention

Every module opens in the learning portal with its full lesson set, worked examples, further reading and video masterclasses. 30 modules · 150 lessons.

Learning Outcomes

What You Will Achieve

ESG Risk Taxonomy — applied to your own work
Environmental Risk Identification — applied to your own work
Social Risk Identification — applied to your own work
Governance Risk Identification — applied to your own work
ESG Materiality and Risk — applied to your own work
ESG Risk Assessment — applied to your own work

Enrolment Process

How to Get Certified

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Step 1: Choose Your Certification

You are viewing Certified ESG Risk Specialist — one of GLI's 1,990+ globally recognised professional certifications.

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Step 2: Enrol & Pay Online — Instantly

Click Enrol & Study Online to register and pay securely via Paystack, Visa, Mastercard, M-Pesa or bank transfer. Access is granted the moment payment is confirmed.

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Step 3: Study in the GLI Learning Portal

Work through 30 structured modules and 150 lessons at your own pace, with downloadable resources and expert-designed content — all inside the LMS.

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Step 4: Pass, Get Certified & Verified

Sit your final examination online, earn your certificate instantly, and receive a globally verifiable Certificate ID — plus GLI Alumni Network access.

🎓 Enrol & Study Online — Instant Access

Secure checkout · Instant LMS access · Globally verifiable certificate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

What is the CERS2 certification?

The Certified ESG Risk Specialist is a professional certification awarded by the Global Leadership Institute. It covers 20 core modules specific to ESG Risk Specialist, culminating in the capstone “Enterprise ESG Risk Strategy”, plus 10 professional elective modules common to all GLI certifications. Candidates study through the online portal, submit the capstone project and sit a final examination; those who pass receive a verifiable certificate carrying a unique certificate ID.

Who should enrol in the CERS2?

This certification is ideal for Governance and Compliance Officers, Policy and Regulatory Analysts, Risk and Audit Professionals and Company Secretaries and Board Advisors, and other professionals seeking to formalise their expertise in corporate governance, compliance, policy and accountability with a globally recognised credential.

How long does the CERS2 certification take to complete?

The programme is structured over 11 Weeks and offers flexible learning modes. Self-paced learners can progress at their own schedule, while live virtual participants follow a structured cohort schedule with facilitator-led sessions.

Is the CERS2 internationally recognised?

Yes. GLI certifications are recognised across 100+ countries and are aligned with OECD principles, ISO and recognised governance and compliance standards. Graduates receive a digital certificate, a physical certificate and CPD credits recognised by employers worldwide.

What is the cost of the CERS2 certification?

The Certified ESG Risk Specialist is offered in two formats: Self-Paced at USD 449 and Live Virtual at USD 649. Corporate group rates are available for organisations enrolling 5 or more participants. Contact GLI for a bespoke corporate training quotation.

What does the CERS2 certification include?

Enrolment includes all study materials and study guides, access to GLI's online learning portal, online examination, digital certificate and badge, physical certificate (posted), CPD credits, GLI alumni network membership, and ongoing facilitator support.

What is the assessment format for the CERS2?

The Certified ESG Risk Specialist is assessed through an online examination consisting of multiple-choice questions, case study analysis, and practical application assignments. The assessment is designed to evaluate real-world competency, not just theoretical recall.

What CPD credits do I earn from the CERS2?

The Certified ESG Risk Specialist carries Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, which can be applied towards professional body requirements including recognised international professional associations.

Can I study the CERS2 while working full-time?

Absolutely. The self-paced option is designed for busy working professionals and allows you to study when and where it suits you. Live virtual sessions are typically scheduled in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate professional commitments.

What career outcomes can I expect from the CERS2?

Graduates progress towards senior governance, compliance and policy-leadership roles. The CERS2 strengthens your expertise in corporate governance, compliance, policy and accountability and positions you for advancement across corporates, critical infrastructure, government and protective services.

Graduate Voices

What Our Alumni Say

“

The curriculum was directly applicable to my daily work. I immediately applied what I learned and saw results within weeks of completing the programme.

Head of Security

Private Sector

“

GLI's certification is the most practical professional programme I have attended. The international frameworks gave me credibility with my employer and clients.

Security Manager

NGO Sector

“

I earned my CERS2 while working full-time. The self-paced format made it possible, and the quality of the content is genuinely world-class.

Investigations Lead

Government

Certified ESG Risk Specialist

Certified ESG Risk Specialist

Certification at a Glance

Who Should Enrol?

Everything Included in Your Enrolment

Why This Certification Matters for Your Career

Core Competencies You Will Develop

Programme Modules

What You Will Achieve

How to Get Certified

Common Questions

What Our Alumni Say

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